Boston Common Golf ends its winless streak in the TGL with an eagle on the final hole against Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf shined for the first time on Saturday at the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) at the SoFi Center in Palm Gardens Beach, Florida, defeating the Los Angeles Golf Club. Boston Common Golf had not recorded a single win in any TGL matchup during the previous season but finally broke this streak. Besides McIlroy, the winning team included American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Michael Thorbjörnsen, who stepped in as a substitute for Australian Adam Scott and Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, both unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club also fielded notable players: Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala represented the Californian team.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
The deciding moment came on the last hole when TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen sank a 4.5-meter eagle putt to secure a 7-5 victory for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy commented, \”It has taken a long time for Keegan and me to finally win again,\” adding, \”Many good shots, numerous birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and narrow misses. It was a back-and-forth battle and definitely fun to play.\”
The match began with nine holes in the triple format, producing six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes, resulting in a 4-4 tie. At the eighth hole, Boston Common Golf gained two points with a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club, securing a birdie and erasing a one-point deficit. Los Angeles Golf Club’s point on the last triple hole did not threaten Boston’s lead.
The singles contests were initially even until, beginning from the 12th hole, Boston Common Golf took the lead with an eagle putt by Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes resulted in ties despite hammer throws, leaving the score 6-5 in favor of Boston before the final hole. Though a draw was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently converted the final putt for eagle, sealing the win.
Thorbjörnsen also became the first TGL player to sink four putts from over three meters in a single match, closing the gap to teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Bradley, contributing decisively to the complete team victory at Palm Beach State College’s campus.
Hammer Strategy Key to Victory
Boston Common Golf’s success was also thanks to a strategic hammer approach, yielding three additional points. \”Our approach to accepting and throwing hammers follows a somewhat different strategy, focusing more on data,\” explained Keegan Bradley. \”Sometimes you have to take risks on these hammers because they can completely change the course of play.\”
The defeated Los Angeles Golf Club team also reflected on the match. \”We had good chances all day to break away and build a lead, but it didn’t happen,\” said Sahith Theegala. \”The guys played great, and it’s a